With exam season approaching, many students will be turning their attention to revision. However, actually settling down to start revising is easier said than done. Suddenly it might seem more important to tidy up your room (so you can concentrate), take the dog for a walk, or head out to the local shop to pick up a few things. Almost anything can seem appealing when you are faced with revision, but you know that how well you revise will have a real impact on your results. So, whether you want the grades to head off to university, get a job, or move forward to an apprenticeship, you can’t afford to mess up your revision. So, don’t leave it to chance – instead check out these tried and tested revision tips to maximise your chances of success!
As with anything in life, you are better off if you have a good plan. When it comes to preparing for your exams this will mean a revision timetable. The more detailed the plan the better, so give yourself some time to work it out. Write out every topic that you need to revise (by subject) and then guess how long you think it will take to revise each topic. Break your revision down into manageable amounts of about 50 minutes in length. Once you know what needs to be done you can plot your revision on a timetable. Breaking your revision down like this not only makes it more manageable, but it also stops you wasting time by putting things off. Of course, motivation to revise may require some extra advice!
Your tutor is there to help you, so don’t be shy about asking them for advice. They may be able to guide you as to what will come up in the exam. Alternatively, you can look online to check the contents of the syllabus you are studying.
OK, so it may be a little too late to do much about this one, but it is still decent advice for the future. Instead of trying to cram in all of your revision just before the exams, you might want to try revising as you go along. Making flash cards and other revision aids during the course of your studies means you don’t have to do it all with just a few weeks to go. It is also a good idea to keep your notes in order, checking them after college to make sure they make sense (and will do in a few months!). Cramming for an exam simply doesn’t work, but by preparing as you go along, you can make your revision easier just before the exams. This is something you can do to make the most of study periods while the information is still fresh in your mind.
Have a go at taking a few past papers if you get a chance. They are your best chance of getting a real feel for what will be expected of you in the exam, as well as how the examiner may use the syllabus to test you.
Did you know that you can get hold of examiners’ reports that are written by the very people who are going to mark your exam papers? These reports will offer you an insight into what the examiner wants to see as well as examples of what not to do! If you know what the examiners have consistently looked for in the best students over the past few years, then you can make sure to add a little to your own papers!
Preparation will help you feel more confident when it comes time for your exams. That’s not to say you won’t feel any stress at all as you approach your exams, but you can handle the exam stress easier if you know you are ready!
